Entasis Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 14, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Entasis Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ETTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel antibacterial products, announced its third quarter financial results for the period ended September 30, 2019 and provided a business update.

“We are extremely pleased by the continued progress we have made advancing our pipeline during the third quarter of 2019,” stated Manos Perros, President and Chief Executive Officer of Entasis Therapeutics. “We reached another pivotal milestone in September with the advancement of our second program, zoliflodacin, a novel antibiotic for the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea, into a Phase 3 clinical trial.  In addition to zoliflodacin, sulbactam-durlobactam (SUL-DUR) is being studied in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter infections in the ongoing ATTACK Phase 3 clinical trial.”

Dr. Perros added, “We also strengthened our company with the additions of Dr. Howard Mayer to our board of directors, effective August 5, 2019 and David Altarac, M.D., MPA as Chief Medical Officer, effective November 4, 2019. Dr. Mayer brings significant clinical expertise in the infectious and rare disease space as well as operational leadership to both our board and company. Dr. Altarac brings over 20 years of biopharmaceutical R&D leadership and has led multiple new drug approvals and product extensions in major markets. Overall, we remain committed to executing our strategic initiatives and believe our skilled leadership team, strong pipeline, and focused business plan position us well in anticipation of our first Phase 3 data readout from the ATTACK clinical trial during the second half of 2020.”

Third Quarter and Recent Highlights

• In September, the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) initiated the global Phase 3 pivotal trial of zoliflodacin for the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea. The randomized, open label trial will enroll approximately 1,000 adults with urogenital gonorrhea at clinical trial sites in the United States and internationally and will assess the safety and efficacy of zoliflodacin versus the combination of azithromycin and ceftriaxone, the current standard of care. Our partner GARDP is fully funding and sponsoring the trial, and in return we have provided them with exclusive commercial rights in low to select middle income countries. A data readout from the Phase 3 pivotal trial is expected in 2021.
  
  
• Entasis strengthened its board of directors through the addition of industry veteran Howard Mayer, M.D. Dr. Mayer has held positions in executive management at both mid-sized and large pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck KGaA and Shire Plc, and brings a wealth of experience leading and executing clinical programs, including programs in the infectious disease space.
  
  
• In November, David Altarac, M.D., MPA joined the Company as Chief Medical Officer, concurrent with the retirement of Dr. Robin Isaacs who has served as the Company’s Chief Medical Officer since July 2015. Dr. Altarac is a recognized industry R&D leader and brings broad experience from previous roles, most recently as senior vice president and head of global regulatory affairs, global drug safety and R&D quality and compliance at Shire Plc.
  
  
• At IDWeek 2019, the Company highlighted the latest advancements in the antibacterial activity of our lead candidate SUL-DUR through two poster presentations. For the first time, the Company described the robust in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity of SUL-DUR against Burkholderia species, a challenging group of pathogens that have the potential to cause serious respiratory infections, especially in patients with cystic fibrosis. Dr. Perros, President and CEO, also participated in an industry panel discussion on how to reinvigorate antibiotic development in the current market environment. The Company hosted an advisory panel on SUL-DUR and discussed aspects of the pivotal ATTACK clinical trial and SUL-DUR’s potential for the treatment of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter infections.
  
  
• The Company bolstered its liquidity by entering into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC. Under the agreement, the Company may issue and sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $20.0 million. The Company has the sole discretion to present Aspire with a purchase notice directing Aspire to purchase up to 50,000 shares of common stock per business day.

Third Quarter Financial Results

The Company reported a net loss of $3.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, compared to a net loss of $8.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2018. The decrease in net loss was primarily due to milestone revenue of $7.0 million from our collaboration with Zai Lab Limited in 2019 related to the achievement of key milestones in our ATTACK clinical trial.

Research and development expenses were $7.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, compared to $8.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2018. The decrease in research and development expenses was primarily attributable to decreases in drug manufacturing costs, partially offset by increases in clinical development expenses related to the advancement of our SUL-DUR product candidate.

General and administrative expenses were $3.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, compared to $2.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, an increase driven by costs associated with additional headcount and VAT taxes associated with the milestone revenue from our collaboration with Zai Lab Limited.

As of September 30, 2019, cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $48.8 million, compared to $59.5 million as of June 30, 2019. The Company believes its current cash position, together with earned milestones from our collaboration with Zai Lab Limited, provides a cash runway into the fourth quarter of 2020.  Additionally, the Company signed a $20 million common stock purchase agreement with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC on October 21, 2019.

About Entasis
Entasis is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel antibacterial products to treat serious infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Entasis’ pathogen-targeted design platform has produced a pipeline of product candidates, including sulbactam-durlobactam (targeting Acinetobacter baumannii infections), zoliflodacin (targeting Neisseria gonorrhoeae), and ETX0282CPDP (targeting Enterobacteriaceae infections). Entasis is also using its platform to develop a novel class of antibiotics, non-β-lactam inhibitors of the penicillin-binding proteins (NBPs) (targeting Gram-negative infections). For more information, visit www.entasistx.com.

Entasis Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Entasis’ expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Many factors may cause differences between current expectations and actual results, including unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during non-clinical or clinical studies, clinical site activation rates or clinical trial enrollment rates that are lower than expected and changes in expected or existing competition, changes in the regulatory environment, failure of Entasis’ collaborators to support or advance collaborations or product candidates and unexpected litigation or other disputes. Many of these factors are beyond Entasis’ control. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the Entasis’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section titled “Risk Factors” contained therein. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and except as required by law, Entasis assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information becomes available.

Company Contact
Kyle Dow
Entasis Therapeutics
(781) 810-0114
kyle.dow@entasistx.com

Investor Relations Contacts
Tram Bui / James Salierno
The Ruth Group
(646) 536-7035 / 7028
tbui@theruthgroup.com
jsalierno@theruthgroup.com

Media Contact
Kirsten Thomas
The Ruth Group
(508) 280-6592
kthomas@theruthgroup.com

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